It is almost 11pm in China and we are soooooo tired! Our bags are packed, 3 carry- ons, 1 laptop bag, and 4 big suitcases! We have to have the checked bags outside our room by 4:30 am because we are leaving our hotel at 5:30 am! We were so worried this morning that our flights would be delayed because of the typhoon that hit Guangzhou last night, but everything is on schedule as far as we know! I posted a couple of pics of what it looked like right outside our hotel this morning! Poor Gary had to wade through it to get our laundry and buy baby wipes and two more suitcases! Good thing we got those typhoid and hep A&B shots! Then this afternoon we all took a 40 minute bus ride to the American Consulate and Bing got her Visa and as soon as we cross the border into the US she is an American citizen! I posted a pic of her posing in her red white and blue!
We have had such an incredible time here in China! It is so hard to put into words what it is like here. You would really have to come and experience it for yourself to get the full understanding of the beautiful land and wonderful people! I guess if I had to choose just one word to describe China it would be "humbling". These beautiful people have nothing, and I mean nothing, yet they are so polite, happy, and friendly! They are so incredibly hardworking, too, as we have learned that many of the girls work 12-14 hours a day in the shops around the hotel earning only 50cents per day! We have gotten to know quite a few of them and I wish we could adopt them all! They are all in their late teens and early twenties and absolutely adorable! They even got me some birthday presents and presents for Bing! As poor as they are, they are the most kind and generous people we have ever met! We have gotten quite a few of their email addresses and are going to keep in touch with them! Gary and I were sitting and talking after Baby Bing fell asleep tonight and we both agreed that we will never be the same after we leave China! We have so much yet we still always seem to want more! We can honestly say that we are changing our mind set and will be truly thankful from now on for everything that God has bestowed upon us! I was so bugged that I didn't have time to get my new rugs and window treatments for my newly painted kitchen before we left, but now that just seems so stupid and trivial!
We have enjoyed every single second of being in China! Even though we miss our kids, Justin, Marie, Adam, Sarah and Marcus, our dog, Storm, and cats, Tigger and Fiona,and the rest of our family, we will have a very hard time saying goodbye to Kaelin's homeland! As I laid her down to sleep tonight I got teary thinking that this was the last night that she will sleep in China. It is our prayer that she will love her new life and that her birth mother will somehow feel a sense of peace that the baby girl she gave birth to is being so very loved and cared for.
We have truly had the trip of a lifetime and the best and most incredible part is that we are bringing home our precious baby girl, Kaelin Bing Wen! We will always love China and all of it's people! When Bing is older we plan to come back and show her what a beautiful and amazing country she is from! I have to get up in 4 hours and I haven't even gotten to sleep yet! Goodbye from Guangzhou, Guangdong! See you in the good ol' USA! Love, Di
5 comments:
Great post, Di! I can't get over the water outside The White Swan. And you did do some shopping...4 checked bags...Holy Smokes!!
Have a safe trip home.
Sharon
PS: It took me a couple of weeks home to feel like I wasn't running on adrenaline. Unfortunately, that means my appetite is back and it's not for healthy stuff.
Di this is a beautiful post. It reflects our feelings and experience exactly. We have so enjoyed watching you all become a family.Have a wonderful safe trip home. Give yourself a few weeks to feel normal again. China will always have your heart....
Much Love from the Rizzo's
Di, What a nice post. I have really enjoyed following your trip. Have a safe trip home and can't wait to hear more.
Kathy
Diane.......I so loved your post. You have hit the nail on the head and I am so glad you "got it'. My girls are entering their teens now and we are trying to show them the real side of China which is her people. It is so easy to forget when you come home! Bing is fortunate to have you for her family and you are blessed to have her.......but you know that!!
What a beautiful, heartfelt post. Of course you know I'm crying. Won't be long now and you'll be home. Thank you for sharing your trip with us. Watching you become a family has been an awesome experience.
We love you guys !
Lori & Mr. H
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